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After release, Whale Watcher (194) showed an adventurous spirit similar to his mate's, Traveler (171), often leading the way into new parts of Big Sur. He had phenomenal foraging skills and often found and fed on various marine mammals when they washed ashore. A clerical error in Whale Watcher (194)'s medical file led us to believe that he was female and it was only after he reached sexual maturity at around six years old, and began displaying masculine behaviors, that we realized the mistake.
Whale Watcher (194) and Traveler (171) fostered several chicks and engaged in vigorous territory defense when other condors encroached on their territory or when they felt that something was threatening the chick. Their vigilant parenting served their foster chicks well.
Sadly, in the summer of 2013, Whale Watcher (194) was tracked flying south of Pinnacles National Park into an area known for high lead exposures. Despite having been recently outfitted with a new transmitter, his signal was not picked up and he was never seen again. This missing older condor represents a huge loss for us and the entire Central California Flock.
Whale Watcher (194) and Traveler (171) fostered several chicks and engaged in vigorous territory defense when other condors encroached on their territory or when they felt that something was threatening the chick. Their vigilant parenting served their foster chicks well.
Sadly, in the summer of 2013, Whale Watcher (194) was tracked flying south of Pinnacles National Park into an area known for high lead exposures. Despite having been recently outfitted with a new transmitter, his signal was not picked up and he was never seen again. This missing older condor represents a huge loss for us and the entire Central California Flock.